It’s been a while since we featured a face mask on The Amazing Blog, and this Josie Dream Mask caught our eye. It’s an overnight facial mask by Josie Rose, lightweight and gentle, yet hydrating enough to work overnight boosting the complexion.
Anna Daniels founded science-based skincare Josie Rose in 2019, following her successful career as an award-winning dietitian. Growing up in Australia and UK gave her focus on the positive effects of antioxidants in food science, nutrition and viticulture, thus gaining extensive knowledge about the role they play before she started her skincare. “I knew how to nourish skin from the inside, and I wanted to develop a way to do it from the outside too.” With her understanding of nutrition and positive lifestyles, she decided to add to her offerings by creating a skincare product that would become a ritual in her clients' daily routine. The 'gut-skin-mind' ethos gives the brand a completely new and holistic approach. In The Harrowgate Advertiser, Anna said, "Whilst I knew that certain active ingredients benefitted the skin, they were also very drying and could be harsh. My aim was to create a skincare product that was effective and could be used across the age ranges with a simple goal: to improve the health of the skin.” She went on to say, "It was important to create a product where every drop in the formula had a direct benefit on the skin." Based in Harrowgate, the local theme is reflected in her logo with the Yorkshire Rose and microalgae in the centre and petals representing hydration droplets - are a homage to the renowned Harrowgate spring water and the key ingredients. Anna believes that using fewer products reduces the waste in our ecosystem - hence she currently has just one multifunctional product, the hydrating retinol-based Josie Dream Mask. As an overnight mask, it can repair and alleviate the skin from aggressors and environmental damage. Plus, skin cell renewal and turnover increase when the body is in a deep sleep. Her products are natural, recyclable, and cruelty-free. As an example of the clean ingredients, Josie Rose sources the microalgae grown in clean, filtered seawater, and the rose water from organic farming. Anna is in product development with a unique SPF serum, and on a more personal level, Anna has a special love for whales and dolphins, where Josie Rose supports Whales & Dolphins Conservation pledging to donate 1% of all profits.
The multitasking Josie Dream Mask has a total of 38 Ingredients, 23 of which are natural and sustainably sourced with active nutrients and antioxidants. It is water-based and intensely moisturises the skin leaving it more hydrated with fine lines plumped up. Applied as an overnight mask, it can replace, or work with regular nighttime skincare. We think it’s better used alone to get the full benefits of all these natural activities. Usually, we would go into each ingredient in detail, but on this occasion, we’ll leave you to look at their ingredients section for a full explanation. We’ve picked out a few of the key ingredients below:
It is packed with 20% actives and has a potent combination of 5% micro-encapsulated retinol (1% pure) and 1% bakuchiol with stable vitamin C. The micro-encapsulated retinol is what sets it apart. It contains the highest level of retinol you can get over the counter, as it’s micro-encapsulated, which means it works at a deeper level without any irritation. Their small molecule size allows them to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, improving fine lines and increasing collagen and elastin production. Bakuchiol extract is from the psoralea corylifolia (babchi) plant's leaves and seeds. It is a compound recognised as a phyto-retinol and a natural alternative to synthetic retinol. It works the same way as retinol but is also an anti-inflammatory. Vitamin C is known to stabilise retinol, and is a powerful antioxidant, offering protection from oxidative stress. Also, it has a biodegradable delivery system which delivers lipophilic active agents, including fat-soluble vitamins and botanicals, into the outer layers of the skin.
The Australian botanicals are kangaroo paw and Tasmanian pepperberry (both of which we’ve featured before). The kangaroo paw is full of fatty acids, which encourage cell growth. The ferulic acid in the flower offers keratinocytes, fibroblasts, collagen and elastin to enhance the skin. It also acts as a photoprotective agent from harmful UV rays. The Tasmanian pepperberry comes from a shrub found in south-eastern Australia. It reduces inflammation, redness and sensitivity and consists of the powerful active polygodial, which has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
The ultra-nourishing ‘Natural Moisturising Factors’ (NMFs as Anna refers to them) are a blend of humectants and emollients with ectoin, hyaluronic acid, lecithin, plant squalane and urea. When combined, they hydrate the skin, helping it maintain a dewy, plumped up, smooth texture.
There’s also a blend of super active microalgae, rose stem cells, fermented honey and cold-pressed plant oils like papaya, melon and cucumber seed. These give optimum skin hydration, keep the skin cells regenerating, and protect the epidermal barrier.
The Josie Dream mask is housed in a recyclable plastic-free sea green glass cylinder with an airless pump to ensure stability and efficiency. Once a product is exposed to light and air, any active ingredients will lose their potency. It’s designed to be used 2-3 times per week depending on skin type or concerns. We used it solo and with a serum - which honestly wasn’t needed, with the plethora of goodies here to feed the skin. As we have sensitive skin we were a little cautious given the high retinol content. However, our concerns were unfounded, it was gentle enough to use around the eye area, with no skin tingling and was very light and easy to apply. A big plus is that it has no added fragrance, and a thin layer felt more like a cream than a mask. We loved how it left our skin hydrated and glowing in the morning. What a bonus! It's another of our #amazingfinds and one we’d like to recommend. Forget your regular night cream and make this your investment overnight skincare, as it’s worth every penny. To purchase this 30ml Josie Dream Mask for £68.00, see here.
